Chinese star Jin joins Everton for TV show

May 15 2008 by Liza Williams, Liverpool Daily Post

A CHINESE star is the latest recruit to join the Everton Soccer Academy.

Jin Hui has joined the club from the Chinese TV show Soccer Prince, which gives footballers between the ages of 14 and 19 the chance to compete for a place in the Academy.

Over a three-month period in 2007, the best young players in China were put through their paces at specially designated training camps in front of TV cameras – with a watching audience of 60m.

The best three players have been invited to join three professional clubs, Everton, Bolton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest.

Jin, 19, will now be put through his paces in the same way as current Everton stars who progressed through the Academy, including Leon Osman and Tony Hibbert.